Impact of residual extractives on the thermal stability of softwood Kraft pulp

Abstract Wood extractives are known to cause problems during the production of pulp and paper impact their mechanical properties. In present work, we systematically explored whether minute residual amounts that reprecipitate on fiber surface in final stages pulping process would lower thermal resilience softwood Kraft pulp. Pulp samples subjected different extraction methods were characterized by means thermogravimetric analysis. The compound classes constituting respective extracts identified quantified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/flame ionization detector (GC-MS/FID) influence individual stability was investigated separately. Soxhlet with an ethanol/toluene solvent system clearly led increased stability. Besides fatty acids resin also sterols sterol esters do not carry carboxylic acid functionalities contributed deterioration Lateral order indices derived from Fourier transformed infrared spectra crystallinity solid-state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance indicate upon degradation, presence even leads degree supramolecular disorder. Moreover, characterization samples’ carbohydrate composition acidic hydrolysis showed a tendency towards facilitated pyrolysis hemicelluloses if